Spin-off Austria

The FFG funding program „Spin-off Fellowship“ enables scientists to concentrate on the further development of their research results to a concrete commercialization-relevant state, (e.g. prototype development). Fellows must not perform other tasks, such as teaching or other research tasks. It is a new career path and leads away from a scientific career at a university or research institution! Funding will be granted up to 18 months with a maximum of EUR 500,000. Mentoring, coaching and further training measures will be provided additionally.

The Knowledge Transfer Centre South (WTZ Süd) offers support and coordination of applicants, for funded Fellow-projects as well as entitled organizations within the Spin-off Fellowship-Program in the provinces of Styria and Carinthia.

Application

Deadline for Call 1: 18th January 2018; Hearing: 23. – 25. 04. 2018

Deadline for Call 2: 19th July 2018; Hearing: 27. – 29. 11. 2018

Deadline for Call 3: 20th March 2019; Hearing CW 30 2019

Deadline for Call 4: planned for August 2019

The documents (guidelines, template project description, and letter of acknowledgement) as well as further information may be found here on the homepage of the FFG.

Information Centers of the entitled organizationsThe knowledge and technology transfer managers of the entitled organizations will provide support and consulting regarding intellectual property rights and the commercialization as well as patent and license management for the applicants. Contact points are:

Presentation training for the hearing in front of the FFGThe WTZ Süd prepares the potential Fellows for the hearing at the FFG. The participants will learn to present their project (e.g. strengths of the team, innovative potential of the technology) in a clear and comprehensible way. The presentation training includes basic presentation techniques as well as a confidential presentation of the own project. Participation at the presentation training is free for the potential Fellows having applied (total duration: 1 day).

The WTZ Süd supports Fellows (or Fellow teams) with compulsory basic support and individual support services.

Basic supportFellowship Bootcamp (mandatory for all Fellows)The Bootcamp prepares the Fellows for the further planning and implementation steps in their project regarding the commercialization aspects of their technology.

Additional support activitiesIndividual trainingsPlease find a selection of recommended trainings for Fellows here (document in progress).
These trainings include:

Innovation management

User-oriented approaches to market analysis

Creating and development of business models

Creating business and financial plans

The listed trainings are carefully selected and are regularly up-dated. In addition, Fellows can also propose individual trainings or coachings within the scope of the thematic topics.